Chapter 188: Infiltration…?

“What else do you think I am?”

A Humaen—a biologically engineered human given the lifespan and mind of an elf. While humanity thrived in technology, elves mastered magic and biology.

Humaens are just one example of their creations, an elite guard bred to serve as sleeper agents inside human territory.

In the novel, Humaens were the spark that ignited the Elven War after the current elven patriarch died under mysterious circumstances.

But… that shouldn’t have happened yet. In the novel, it was made very clear that elves were forbidden from even touching humans while the current patriarch still lived.

Unless, of course… the succession happened earlier this time because of my interference.

“A-A Humaen in the flesh…”

The elven leader winced, fingers brushing the dark mark on his neck where my grip had been strongest.

“I apologize… I didn’t know.”

“Silence. Now tell me, where did you take the girl?”

“W-Which one?”

Right… Evelina wasn’t the only woman on board. There were others crammed inside with her. Still, shouldn’t it be obvious who I meant? Obviously, I was talking about the most beautiful of them all.

What other girl was I supposed to mean!?

“White hair. Red eyes.”

“S-She was taken to our camp along with the other two humans.”

“Take me to her.”

“W-What’s so important about her? Is she a key to Operation Elfhaen?”

I didn’t answer. I could already feel him regretting asking. Bluffing—if there was any skill I’d mastered besides firing a gun, it was that.

And now it was even more effective, since I knew most of their underground dealings.

All I had to do now was act like I owned the place and get Evelina out safely. As for Julius and Marcellus? Eh, I’d probably free them too, but I wasn’t about to go out of my way to escort them.

“O-Of course, my lordship, but one last thing… are those black flames the reason you’re immune to the silencing field?”

How many questions did this bastard have to ask?

“That’s above your pay grade.”

“O-Okay…”

Man, he really folded the moment someone he thought outranked him showed up. Maybe I should pretend to fire him later, once I find Evelina, just to see how far the dominoes fall.

His mention of a silencing field was certainly interesting. Was that how Evelina and the others were caught so easily? I guess these black flames came with another pair of new, unexpected perks.

***

The forest thinned as we moved, the air growing heavier with something unseen, likely the silencing field he mentioned, but whatever force the elves wielded, it certainly didn’t affect me.

The elven leader kept glancing at me, his steps stiff, shoulders drawn tight. He was quite twitchy for a century-old scouting leader…

Guess I overestimated them…

“How far?” I asked.

“N-Not much farther, my lordship. The camp is just beyond the ridge.”

“Then walk faster…” I crossed my arm and tapped my elbow.

“Yes!” He nearly tripped over himself trying to obey.

But my attention wasn’t on him anymore; it was ahead.

There, faint but unmistakable: a presence. No, not just any presence. Her. Even suppressed, buried beneath whatever field they were using, I could feel it like a thread tied directly to my chest, pulling tighter with every step.

It wasn’t metaphorical either; I could physically feel her being near. Probably something to do with the tracker and her succubus magic.

Evelina.

A slow smile crept onto my lips.

The moment we crossed the ridge, the camp came into view. It wasn’t a fortress, but a temporary camp created from pale wood and grown rather than built.

Elven craftsmanship. I couldn’t help but think about how effective they’ll be at rapid warfare.

I mean… being able to set up camp anywhere where grass touches is unbelievably powerful.

Guards stood at the perimeter, their sharp eyes snapping toward us the moment we appeared, until they saw me. Or rather, what they thought I was. Their expressions shifted instantly; wariness melted into rigid discipline as they lowered their heads.

A human walking along with an elven squad? With the leader walking ahead like he’s afraid? There was only one reason why something like that would happen.

“A Humaen…?”

“Shut up! Just greet him!”

“My lord.”

“My lordship.”

I didn’t acknowledge them. Didn’t need to, I’d rather not risk accidentally revealing myself.

I’ve been living long enough in this world already to know that the novel had more than a few information gaps…

The leader hurried ahead, waving them off with shaky authority.

“Stand down! He is—he is of higher command!”

That only made them bow deeper.

God, this was almost too easy.

They were kinda cute in a strange way.

We moved through the camp without resistance; no one dared question us, no one even looked at me for too long.

I let out a quiet sigh of relief. Because the moment they really looked at me, they’d realize something was wrong.

I didn’t belong here. Not really. But as long as I kept walking, kept breathing like I owned their lives, my performance would hold.

We stopped in front of a structure slightly larger than the others. Unlike the rest, faint inscriptions pulsed across its surface. A containment unit.

“Sh-She’s inside,” the leader said, voice barely above a whisper.

My fingers twitched. For a brief moment, I considered killing him right there. I didn’t really need him anymore.

But… I held back for now.

Not yet.

“Open it already.”

I waved my hand.

“Yes, my lordship.”

He stepped forward, placing his hand against the surface. The inscriptions flickered, then unraveled, the structure parting like petals opening to the sun.

Even their doors were fancy.

And there she was.

Chains, of course, bindings made from that same unseen force, wrapped tightly around her limbs and pinned her to the center of the room.

Her head hung low, silver-white hair cascading over her face and hiding her expression.

I scanned her body for any bruises, anything that might’ve marred her skin. Lucky for them, I didn’t see a thing. For now, she was just unconscious.

As for Julius and Marcellus, though? I had no idea where they were.

“Evelina.”

I stepped inside, placed a hand on her shoulder, and tried to shake her awake.

Nothing. Not even the faintest trace of her demonic energy. Did the silencing field also cut off her connection to demonic power?

Since she was more than just human at this point, maybe the lack of demonic magic—or just magic in general—in the air was why she was asleep.

[Photographic Memory]

I remembered reading in one of her library’s books that some demons needed ambient magic to stay awake or they’d go into hibernation.

I hadn’t thought it would apply to her, too. Guess she really did become part succubus now. Maybe I should figure out a way to make her immune to silencing fields like this in the future.

“Was she always unconscious?”

“Yes.”

“Leave us.”

The elven leader bowed and closed the door behind him.

Well, time to work my magic.

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